FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending March 18, 2011
Washington, D.C.
March 18, 2011 FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
1.New York: Indictment Charges Suspected al Qaeda Plotter
A superseding indictment was unsealed charging Ferid Imam, also known as “Yousef,” with providing and conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda; aiding and abetting the terrorist training of Najibullah Zazi, Zarein Ahmedzay, and Adis Medunjanin; and using a destructive device in furtherance of crimes of violence. Details
2.Indianapolis: Financial Services Company Executives Charged in $200 Million Fraud Scheme
Timothy Durham, James Cochran, and Rick Snow, former executives of Fair Financial Company, were arrested on charges of wire and securities fraud in connection with their roles in a scheme to defraud approximately 5,000 investors of more than $200 million. Details
3.Norfolk: Five Somalis Sentenced for Piracy Against USS Nicholas
Five men from Somalia were sentenced to life followed by a consecutive 80 years in prison for engaging in piracy and related offenses in their attack on the USS Nicholas. Details
4.Salt Lake City: Thirty Gang Members Indicted in Federal and State Court
Thirty members of the “Brown Magic Clica,” a Sureño street gang, were charged in Idaho in three separate indictments alleging racketeering, distribution of controlled substances, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Details
5.Boston: Former Rhode Island Art Dealer Convicted of Bilking Millions from Investors, Defrauding Inventor
Former art dealer Rocco P. DeSimone was convicted of conning an inventor and several investors out of more than $6 million in cash, tangible assets, and forgiven debt by fraudulently claiming to be marketing inventions which he had little or no ownership. Details
6.Washington Field: Former Treasurer of International Fraternity Sentenced in Connection with Bank Fraud
Terry Davis, the former elected national treasurer of Phi Beta Sigma, an international fraternal organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 31 months in prison for committing bank fraud stemming from his theft of more than $50,000 from the fraternity’s bank accounts. Details
7.Headquarters: Tips on Avoiding Fraudulent Charitable Contribution Schemes
The FBI issued a news release reminding the public to use caution when making donations in the aftermath of natural disasters. Unfortunately, criminals can exploit these tragedies for their own gain by sending fraudulent e-mails and creating phony websites designed to solicit contributions. Details
8.New Orleans: Three Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud Medicare
Attorney Alton Bates was sentenced to 34 months in prison, to pay restitution of more than $1 million to Medicare, to forfeit the gross proceeds of his scheme, and to three years of supervised release after imprisonment. Two co-defendants, Robert Ivory Levy and Juanita Anderson Hilton, who were licensed clinical social workers, were also sentenced and ordered to pay restitution. Details
9.Baltimore: Superseding Indictment Charges Prince George’s County Police Officer and His Co-Defendant with Corruption, Drug Trafficking, and Firearms Violations
An superseding indictment was returned against Prince George’s County Police officer Sinisa Simic and Mirza Kunjundzic, adding charges of conspiring to commit extortion under color of official right in a scheme involving the transportation and distribution of untaxed cigarettes, distribution of cocaine, and additional firearms charges. Details
10.San Antonio: Former Cameron County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced for Smuggling
Former Cameron County Sheriff’s Deputy Jesus A. Longoria was sentenced to 57 months in prison and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for attempting to smuggle 13 semi-automatic weapons from the U.S. into Mexico. Details
